Partnerships Specialist At UNOPS

The role requirements are: i) to support the implementation and periodically update/refine UN Global Pulse’s (UNGP) Partnerships Strategy; ii) to establish Partnership management processes, systems and rules which will help select and define the nature of UNGP partner engagement; iii) to define the rules and functioning of a potential pooled/multi-donor fund; and iv) to support fundraising efforts for both UNGP’s core and project funding.

The specialist will support and directly contribute to i) UNGP strategic engagement across the UN System, creating and promoting inter-agency collaboration wherever possible; and ii) strategic engagement with external partners including Member States, Regional/international organizations, INGOs/NGOs, Academia, Foundations and the Private Sector.

The incumbent will be primarily accountable to the leadership of the Global Pulse, including the Lab in Helsinki where this post is based and will also report to senior UNGP leadership. The focus of the role will be weighted heavily to defining and establishing internal processes and partnership/fund management systems in the first year. Beyond the first year the focus of the role will shift to more external-facing, while maintaining and managing internal management processes and systems.

The specialist will ensure that the implementation of the Partnerships Strategy and associated internal management processes are aligned across the UNGP Network and will identify internal training/capacity building needs in support of the implementation of the Partnership & Resource Mobilization Strategy. The incumbent will ensure that the outputs and outcomes of the role are aligned with and support UNGP’s wider work on innovation, data, futures and foresight, behavioral science and digital transformation.

The incumbent will continuously monitor needs, trends and developments in partnerships/resource mobilization for UNGP and provide strategic advice, direction, revision, and recommendations for action to the GP Network and UN senior management.

The result of this role will be a fully functioning and effective system / management process in place which will help to deliver and implement UNGP’s Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager and the global workstream lead (the substantive and strategic aspects of work), the incumbent will execute the following duties:

Strategy development
Strategy implementation
Resource mobilization and partnership development
Communication and stakeholder engagement
Internal and cross-UN coordination

Strategy development

Understand the overarching goals and objectives of UNGP’s Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy.
Map, design and develop how to best operationalize the strategy.
Strategy implementation
Develop concepts/modalities/vehicles which will help to deliver the Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy. Results could include:
An innovative engagement model with potential donors which is substantive and goes beyond simple contractual/reporting requirements;**
A regular dialogue engagement with the INGO/NGO community which helps UNGP to continually improve its results and impact with respect to data privacy, human rights, diversity & inclusion, equality, gender and climate outcomes, for example; and
Sustained engagement with Foundations and the Private Sector which helps to identify entry points through which UNGP improves its work on data, innovation, digital transformation, behavioral science and strategic foresight.

Resource mobilization and partnership development

Understand the rules and governance mechanisms regulating the establishment and running of multi-donor/pooled/basket funds.
Present the pros and cons of the most relevant models to senior UNGP and EOSG management.
Identify funding opportunities to ensure sufficient financing for the programmatic work streams (futures & foresight, scale, expertise-hub) and related experimentation portfolios.
Build and nurture a pipeline of donors and partners to support the needs-based resourcing and strategic development of workstreams short and long-term; and
Draft funding proposals, partnerships contracts / agreements as required.

The result will be the establishment and effective running and management of a pooled fund which supports the immediate operational needs of the GP Network, and lays the foundations of a sustainable financing model for UNGP.

Communication and stakeholder engagement

Part of this work will be an internal communication and learning strategy for all UNGP staff to understand the objectives of the Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy, its associated rules, expectations and any other requirements governing its implementation.**
Engage regularly across the UNGP Network to develop capacity to deliver the Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy and to ensure staff have the right knowledge, methods, tools, and resources to actively support the implementation, operation and management of partner engagement and resource mobilizations efforts.
Engage with internal UN and external partners on a regular basis for the implementation and continuous improvement of the Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy

The result is that UNGP remains a trusted, respected and valued innovation partner to all its internal and external stakeholders.

**
Internal and cross-UN coordination**

Regularly coordinate UNGP’s Partnerships Strategy and engagement across the UNGP Network and with EOSG /other UN departments/organizations to maximize the impact of engagement for the wider UN.

Impact of Results The establishment, effective management and operation of UNGP partnerships and its pooled fund will directly result in: i) better designed and more impactful innovation projects; ii) a greater source of sustainable financing to deliver UNGPs mission and vision; and iii) an enhanced reputation of UNGP both within and outside of the UN.

** Education/Experience/Language requirements

* FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Education:

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) is required.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in combination with 2 additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Required:

A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in global development or humanitarian action or peace-building
A minimum of 2 years experience working in partnerships and/or resource mobilization, preferably in a UN context

Desirable:(The following experience is optional. Candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply)